ESL Questions Forensics
Forensics
Science meets the crime scene. These questions examine how we solve mysteries, from DNA and fingerprints to the ethics of surveillance and the 'CSI effect' on our justice system.
Beginner
Do you like mysteries?
Is a fingerprint unique?
Do you see the camera?
Is the blood red?
Do you wear gloves?
Is the room dark?
Do you see a bone?
Is a detective smart?
Do you use a light?
Is the hair small?
Do you see a clue?
Is the lab clean?
Do you find the truth?
Is the door locked?
Do you use a computer?
Is the glass broken?
Do you see a footprint?
Is the paper white?
Do you ask questions?
Is the mask blue?
Do you find a key?
Is the test fast?
Do you see a mark?
Is the case closed?
Do you like science?
Intermediate
What would you do if you found a strange footprint in your garden?
How do you feel when you watch a 'true crime' show on TV?
Is it better to have more cameras in the street to stay safe?
How do you think a person's DNA can prove they were in a room?
Why are fingerprints still used to catch people after so many years?
Have you ever seen a 'detective' working in real life?
Do you think that science can solve every single crime?
How do you feel about your face being in a government database?
Should we use 'lie detectors' in every court case to find the truth?
What is the most important clue a person can leave at a crime scene?
How do you think 'cyber-forensics' helps to catch people on the internet?
Is it difficult for a witness to remember exactly what happened?
Why do some people enjoy reading about murder mysteries in books?
How do you handle a situation where you think someone is lying?
Should we use DNA to find out about our family history and health?
How does a doctor find out why a person died if it was a secret?
Is it possible for a person to 'vanish' without leaving any trace today?
How do you feel about the way 'CSI' shows make science look easy?
Should we keep everyone's fingerprints on file from the day they are born?
What happens to the clues after a case is finally over?
How do you stay calm if you are a person who finds a crime scene?
Is it fair to use old DNA to catch someone who committed a crime 40 years ago?
Why do we need a 'chain of custody' for every piece of evidence?
How do you think technology will change the way we solve mysteries?
Is 'intuition' as important as science when solving a case?
Advanced
Is the 'CSI effect' making it harder for real juries to convict criminals?
How does 'biometric' data collection challenge our fundamental right to privacy?
Should we use 'predictive policing' AI to stop crimes before they happen?
Is it ethical to use DNA from a genealogy website to catch a suspect's relative?
How does 'entomology'—the study of bugs—help to determine the time of death?
Should 'expert witnesses' in court be paid by the government instead of the lawyers?
How do we prevent 'cognitive bias' from leading a forensic scientist to the wrong answer?
Is 'digital forensics' more important now than physical evidence at a crime scene?
How does 'ballistics' science prove which gun was used in a shooting?
Should we use 'genetic phenotyping' to create a picture of a suspect's face from DNA?
Is the use of 'facial recognition' technology a step toward a total surveillance state?
How do we handle 'false positives' in DNA testing that ruin an innocent person's life?
What is the role of 'forensic anthropology' in identifying victims of old wars?
Should 'polygraph' tests be banned because they are not scientifically reliable?
How does 'toxicology' reveal the hidden chemicals in a person's body?
Is it possible to create a 'perfect' crime that no scientist can ever solve?
How do 'blood spatter' patterns tell the story of what happened in a room?
Should we allow 'private' forensic labs to work for the highest bidder?
How has 'mitochondrial DNA' changed the way we look at cold cases?
Is the 'right to be forgotten' possible in an age of digital forensics?
How do we ensure that forensic science is used fairly in developing countries?
Should 'psychological profiling' be considered a science or just an educated guess?
How do 'deepfakes' and AI-generated photos make digital forensics more difficult?
Is it right to keep the DNA of every person who is arrested but not convicted?
What will 'forensics' look like when we can recreate a crime scene in virtual reality?